All About Allays: Minecraft’s Adorable Item-Collecting Allies

Minecraft is a vast, ever-evolving world filled with creatures both friendly and formidable. Among the most endearing additions to the game are the Allays, often referred to as “little angels” by players. But what exactly are these blue, winged helpers, and how can they aid you in your Minecraft adventures? Simply put, Allays are small, passive, blue creatures that float around, collecting items for you. They’re not quite angels in the traditional sense, but their helpful nature and charming appearance certainly make them feel like gifts from above.

Understanding the Allay

Allays were introduced to Minecraft through a community vote and quickly became a player favorite. Their primary function is to gather items of a specific type for the player. This makes them incredibly useful for automating tasks like gathering resources from farms or cleaning up after a mining expedition.

Finding and Freeing Allays

Unlike some mobs, Allays aren’t found wandering freely in the world. Instead, they’re usually found imprisoned by the Illagers, the hostile villagers who inhabit Pillager Outposts and Woodland Mansions. To acquire an Allay, you’ll need to:

• Locate a Pillager Outpost or Woodland Mansion. Pillager Outposts are smaller, tower-like structures, while Woodland Mansions are large, sprawling complexes.
• Search for cages within these structures. Allays are typically found in these cages, sometimes alongside Iron Golems.
• Break the cage to free the Allays. Be prepared to deal with the Illagers guarding the area.

Once freed, an Allay will initially follow you, but you need to give it a specific item to make it truly useful.

Interacting with Allays: The Item of Interest

The key to using an Allay effectively is to give it an item. To do this:

• Hold the item you want the Allay to collect.
• Interact with the Allay (right-click on PC, tap on mobile, or press the appropriate button on consoles).

The Allay will now hold a copy of that item and begin searching for similar items within a certain range.

How Allays Collect Items

Once assigned an item, an Allay will fly around, looking for loose instances of that item on the ground. They can pick up full stacks of matching items up to 64 at once. After collecting items, the Allay will return to the player who gave it the item, or to a Note Block that has recently been played. Note that the Allay must hear the Note Block, meaning it must be within earshot (range of roughly 32 blocks) to associate with it.

Allays and Note Blocks: Their Musical Connection

Allays have a special affinity for Note Blocks. If an Allay hears a Note Block play, it will consider that Note Block its favorite location. It will deliver collected items to the Note Block instead of the player. This allows you to set up collection points in automated farms or mining operations. To use this feature:

• Place a Note Block in a convenient location.
• Play the Note Block. The Allay must be within hearing range when it is played to register it.
• Assign an item to the Allay.

The Allay will now collect items and deliver them to the Note Block.

Limitations of the Allay

While incredibly helpful, Allays have some limitations:

• They cannot break blocks to collect items. They can only pick up items that are already on the ground.
• They have a limited search range (about 32 blocks).
• They cannot swim effectively and may drown if trapped underwater.
• While an Allay will follow you, they won’t venture underwater and won’t venture too far from the player. As long as you stay within 64 blocks of the Allay, it’ll follow you anywhere (except underwater).

Allay Duplication

Allays can be duplicated using a Jukebox, a Music Disc, and an Amethyst Shard. Here’s how to duplicate an Allay:

• Have at least one Allay.
• Place a Jukebox.
• Insert a Music Disc into the Jukebox to start it playing.
• Give the Allay an Amethyst Shard. If the Jukebox is playing a music disc, it will dance and then duplicate.

After dancing, the Allay will duplicate, creating another Allay that will follow you and collect items. This process has a cooldown of 5 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Allays

Here are some frequently asked questions about Allays to further enhance your understanding:

1. Can Allays be tamed?

Technically, Allays cannot be tamed in the same way as wolves or cats. There is no way to permanently bind an Allay to a player. However, they will faithfully follow the player who gave them an item, effectively creating a working relationship.

2. How do I stop an Allay from following me?

To stop an Allay from following you, simply right-click on it with an empty hand. This will remove the item from its inventory, causing it to stop following you.

3. Can Allays carry more than one type of item?

No, an Allay can only carry one type of item at a time. It can hold a stack of up to 64 of that item, but it cannot carry different types of items simultaneously.

4. What happens if an Allay dies?

If an Allay dies, it will drop any items it was carrying.

5. Can Allays be leashed?

No, Allays cannot be leashed. They can only be controlled by giving them an item or by using Note Blocks as collection points.

6. Can Allays go through portals?

Yes, Allays can go through Nether and End Portals and will teleport with you to the other dimension.

7. Do Allays take fall damage?

No, Allays do not take fall damage. They can fly and will always be able to avoid harmful falls.

8. Can Allays be hurt by lava or fire?

Yes, Allays can be hurt by lava and fire. It’s essential to keep them away from these hazards.

9. Can Allays pick up items from chests or inventories?

No, Allays cannot interact with chests or inventories. They can only pick up items that are already lying on the ground.

10. How far can an Allay travel to collect items?

An Allay will search for items within a 32-block radius of the player or the Note Block it’s associated with.

11. What happens if I take the item back from an Allay?

If you take the item back from an Allay, it will stop following you and will essentially become neutral, waiting for another item to be given to it.

12. Do Allays work in the Nether or the End?

Yes, Allays work in all dimensions, including the Nether and the End. This makes them incredibly useful for collecting resources in these challenging environments.

13. How much health do Allays have?

Allays have 20 health points (10 hearts). They are relatively fragile and can be killed by mobs, environmental hazards, or player attacks.

14. Can Allays be used to sort items?

Yes, Allays can be used to sort items in conjunction with hoppers and chests. By placing Note Blocks near item outputs and assigning Allays to collect specific items, you can create automated sorting systems.

15. How are Allays being used in education and game-based learning?

Allays and Minecraft, in general, provide excellent opportunities for game-based learning. Minecraft has a plethora of ways to be integrated into the classroom. To learn more about the ways that educational games can be used in the classroom, visit the GamesLearningSociety.org website. Minecraft has a wide array of usages when it comes to education.

Conclusion: Embrace the Allay’s Assistance

Allays are charming and useful creatures that add a new layer of automation and convenience to Minecraft. By understanding how to find, interact with, and utilize Allays effectively, you can greatly enhance your gameplay and streamline your resource gathering efforts. These little “angels” are a welcome addition to the Minecraft world, making your adventures a little bit easier and a whole lot more fun. So, venture forth, find your own Allays, and let them help you conquer the blocky landscapes of Minecraft.